Wireless communication apparatus with built-in terminal hub

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication apparatus with built-in terminal hub for transmitting a wireless signal includes a PCB, built-in antenna module and input terminal hub. The built-in antenna module disposed on the PCB transmits the wireless signal and the input terminal hub coupled with the PCB connects the computer. It avoids bringing the surrounding electromagnetic interference (EMI) and disorder. Besides, the built-in antenna module makes the whole size smaller and easy to carry. The wireless communication apparatus further provides an extended output terminal hub for connecting other peripheral device.

[0001] This application incorporates by reference Taiwan applicationSer. No. 90200929, filed Jan. 17, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates in general to a wireless communicationapparatus, and more particularly to a wireless communication apparatuswith built-in terminal hub.

[0004] 1. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In the information age, the computer plays an important role andbrings great convenience for modern people. Especially for the minimizednotebook computer, people can use it any time, any place due to itsportability.

[0006] However, people who accustomed to use mouse feel uncomfortable byusing the touchpad and trackball of the notebook to control the movementof the cursor or pointer on a display screen. Therefore, they prefer toconnect a mouse 104 external to the notebook computer 102. A schematicdiagram of a traditional notebook computer connecting a mouse is shownin FIG. 1. The space for controlling the mouse 104 is limited by theconstraint due to the connection of the notebook computer 102. Besides,it is disorderly and inconvenient when several people use mice on thesame table at the meeting.

[0007] In order to solve the problem of the limited space for using themouse 104, a wireless transmission concept is introduced and a cordlessmouse and wireless transceiver are thus devised. It provides usersunconstrained space for controlling the cordless mouse without the mouseconnecting wire 106. The signal is directly sent by the cordless mouseto the wireless transceiver and then sent to the notebook computer bythe wireless transceiver. The implementation is stated as follows:

[0008] Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of a traditionalnotebook computer equipped with a cordless mouse and a wirelesstransceiver is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless transceiver 204connects the notebook computer 202 by the cable 208 and the terminal hub210. The wireless transceiver 204 is capable of transmitting thewireless signal. The terminal hub 210 can be a USB (Universal SeriesBus) terminal hub or PS2 terminal hub. The external antenna 212 of thewireless transceiver 204 receives the wireless signal sent by thecordless mouse 206. The wireless signal is thus transmitted through thewireless transceiver 204, cable 208, and terminal hub 210 to thenotebook computer 202 for performing. Besides, the notebook computer 202communicates with an outer computer equipped another wirelesstransceiver by means of the wireless transceiver. For example, peopleemploy the wireless transceiver to proceed one-way or two-waytransmission among the notebook computers at meeting.

[0009] Although the wireless transceiver 204 facilitate thecommunication between computers, it gives rise to some negativeproblems, which are listed in the following:

[0010] (1) The cable 208 becomes an antenna due to the high controlfrequency of the notebook computer 202. The cable 208 brings thesurrounding electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the notebookcomputer 202 and causes antenna effect.

[0011] (2) It is disorderly and inconvenient when several people usemice with cables 208 on the same table at the meeting.

[0012] (3) The wireless transceiver 204 is too large and heavy to carry.Besides, the attached cable 208 and external antenna 212 take up a lotof space.

[0013] (4) Generally speaking, notebook computer 202 merely has singleterminal hub 210. There is no more terminal hub 210 available to connectthe peripheral device while the wireless transceiver 204 connects thenotebook computer 202 by means of the cable 208 and terminal hub 210.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a wirelesscommunication apparatus with built-in terminal hub. It avoids bringingthe surrounding electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the computer andcausing antenna effect since there is no need to connect a cable.Besides, replacing the external antenna by the built-in antenna reducesthe space that the external antenna occupies and solves the problemabout the disorder and inconvenience. Moreover, the built-in antennamodule makes the whole size smaller and easy to carry. It also providesan extended output terminal hub for connecting other peripheral device.

[0015] The invention achieves the above-identified objects by providinga wireless communication apparatus with built-in terminal hub fortransmitting a wireless signal. The apparatus includes a PCB (PrintedCircuit Board), built-in antenna module and input terminal hub. Thebuilt-in antenna module disposed on the PCB transmits the wirelesssignal and the input terminal hub coupled with the PCB connects thecomputer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the preferredbut non-limiting embodiments. The description is made with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 (Prior Art) shows a schematic diagram of a traditionalnotebook computer connecting a mouse;

[0018]FIG. 2 (Prior Art) shows a schematic diagram of a traditionalnotebook computer equipped with a cordless mouse and a wirelesstransceiver;

[0019]FIG. 3 shows a side view of a wireless communication apparatuswith built-in terminal hub according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

[0020]FIG. 4A shows a side view of an application of the wirelesscommunication apparatus of FIG. 3;

[0021]FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the wireless communicationapparatus of FIG. 4A; and

[0022]FIG. 4C shows a block diagram of a computer having the wirelesscommunication apparatus of FIG. 4A coupling with an outer computer,wireless control device and peripheral device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] The wireless communication apparatus with built-in terminal hubaccording to the invention directly connect the computer by means of theterminal hub without the cable. It avoids bringing the surroundingelectromagnetic interference (EMI). Besides, replacing the externalantenna by the built-in antenna reduces the space that the externalantenna occupies.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, a side view of a wireless communicationapparatus with built-in terminal hub according to a preferred embodimentof the invention is shown. The wireless communication apparatus 302includes a casing 304, PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 306, built-in antennamodule 308, input terminal hub 310 and output terminal hub. The wirelesscommunication apparatus is capable of transmitting a wireless signal.The PCB 306 has a bottom member 306 a and an erect member 306 b. Theinput terminal hub 310 and output terminal hub 312 are disposed on twoends of the bottom member 306 a respectively and coupled with the bottommember 306 a. The wireless communication apparatus 302 is coupled withthe computer by means of the input terminal hub. Moreover, the built-inantenna module 308 for transmitting the wireless signal is disposed onand coupled with the erect member 306 b. The casing 304 contains the PCB306 and the built-in antenna module 308 to protect the configurationinside the wireless communication apparatus 302 from interference.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, the input terminal hub 310 is a USB(Universal Series Bus) or PS2 terminal hub while the output terminal hub310 is a USB or PS2 terminal hub. The built-in antenna module 308 is aphase matrix antenna module. The phase matrix antenna module is designedby an aluminum foil of a baseboard. Moreover, the transmission of thewireless communication apparatus 302 can be a one-way or two-way signaltransmission. Referring to FIG. 4A˜4B, a side view and a perspectiveview of an application of the wireless communication apparatus of FIG. 3are shown. The wireless communication apparatus 402 includes a casing403, PCB 404, USB input terminal hub 408, USB output terminal hub 410and phase matrix antenna.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4C, a block diagram of a computer having thewireless communication apparatus of FIG. 4A coupling with an outercomputer, wireless control device and peripheral device is shown. Thewireless communication apparatus 402, which is enveloped by the dottedline in the FIG. 4C, includes a PCB 404, phase matrix antenna 406, USBinput terminal hub 408, and USB output terminal hub 410. The phasematrix antenna 406 is disposed on the PCB and the USB input terminal hub408 as well as the USB output terminal hub 41 are coupled with the PCB.The computer 412 uses the phase matrix antenna 406 of the wirelesscommunication apparatus 402 to communicate with an outside computer 414equipped with another wireless communication apparatus 413 or receivethe wireless signal from a wireless control device 416. Besides, theperipheral device 418 connects the computer 412 by the coupling with theUSB output terminal hub 410 of the wireless communication apparatus 418.The computer 412 and the outside computer 414 can be personal computers,notebook computers, laptop computers or hand-held computers. Thewireless control device 416 can be a cordless mouse or a wirelesskeyboard. And the peripheral device 418 can be a scanner, printer, orfax machine.

[0027] After the computer 412 sends a wireless signal to a wirelesscommunication apparatus 402, the wireless signal is transmitted throughthe USB input terminal hub 408 as well as the PCB 404. The wirelesssignal is then transmitted to the outside computer 414 by thecommunication between the phase matrix antenna 406 on the PCB 404 andthe phase matrix antenna 415 of the wireless communication apparatus413. By the same way, the outside computer 414 can transmits anotherwireless signal to the computer 412 by the communication between thewireless communication apparatus 402 and 415 wherein the wirelesscommunication apparatus 402 and 415 could have the same configuration.As for the wireless control device 416, the wireless signal sent fromthe wireless control device 416 is received by the phase matrix antenna406 and then transmitted to the computer 412 though the PCB 404 and theUSB input terminal hub 408 for performing.

[0028] On the other hand, the computer 412 sends a command signal to thewireless communication apparatus 402. The command signal is transmittedto the peripheral device 418 through the USB input terminal hub 408,PCB, and USB output terminal hub 410 for performing.

[0029] Therefore, The computer 412 is able to have a wirelesscommunication with the outside computer 414 and the wireless controldevice 416 is able to transmit a wireless signal to the computer 412 bythe connection with the wireless communication apparatus having anbuilt-in antenna module 308. Coupled with the peripheral device 418 bymeans of the output terminal hub 312, the computer 412 can transmit acommand signal to the peripheral device 418. In addition, the wirelesscommunication apparatus 302 can be one-way 2.4 GHz multiple-channelFM/FSK receiver, two-way 900 MHz/2.4GHz spread spectrum transceiver, orregenerative low power-consumption one-way receiver. Furthermore, thewireless communication apparatus 302 can employs a Bluetooth solution.

[0030] The wireless communication apparatus according to the preferredembodiment of the invention has the following advantages:

[0031] (1) The wireless communication apparatus directly connects thecomputer by means of the built-in terminal hub without the cable. Itavoids bringing the surrounding electromagnetic interference (EMI) fromthe computer and causing antenna effect even if the operating frequencyof the computer is high. Besides, replacing the external antenna by thebuilt-in antenna reduces the space that the external antenna occupies.

[0032] (2) It solves the problem about the disorder and inconveniencecaused by the traditional wireless transceiver.

[0033] (3) The wireless communication apparatus without a cable issmaller in size and easy to carry since the antenna module is built-in.

[0034] (4) The wireless communication apparatus with built-in terminalhub provides an extended output terminal hub for connecting otherperipheral device.

[0035] While the invention has been described by way of example and interms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. To the contrary,it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangementsand procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and similar arrangements and procedures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication apparatus with built-interminal hub for transmitting a wireless signal, comprising: a PCB(Printed Circuit Board); a built-in antenna module disposed on the PCBfor transmitting the wireless signal; and an input terminal hub coupledwith the PCB for connecting a computer.
 2. The wireless communicationapparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: an output terminalhub coupled with the PCB for connecting a peripheral device.
 3. Thewireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecomputer uses the wireless communication apparatus to communicate withan outside computer equipped with another wireless communicationapparatus.
 4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the computer uses the wireless communication apparatus toreceive the wireless signal from a wireless control device.
 5. Thewireless communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein thewireless control device is a cordless mouse.
 6. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the wirelesscontrol device is a wireless keyboard.
 7. The wireless communicationapparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a casing forcontaining the PCB and the built-in antenna module to protect theconfiguration inside the wireless communication apparatus.
 8. Thewireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inputterminal hub is an USB (Universal Series Bus) terminal hub.
 9. Thewireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theoutput terminal hub is an USB (Universal Series Bus) terminal hub. 10.The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinput terminal hub is a PS2 terminal hub.
 11. The wireless communicationapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the output terminal hub is a PS2terminal hub.
 12. The wireless communication apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the transmission of the wireless communicationapparatus is a one-way signal transmission.
 13. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmissionof the wireless communication apparatus is a two-way signaltransmission.
 14. The wireless communication apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is a one-way 2.4GHz multiple-channel FM/FSK receiver.
 15. The wireless communicationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communicationapparatus is a regenerative low power-consumption one-way receiver. 16.The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thewireless communication apparatus is a two-way 900 MHz/2.4 GHz spreadspectrum transceiver.
 17. The wireless communication apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the wireless communication apparatus employs aBluetooth solution.
 18. The wireless communication apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the built-in antenna module is a phase matrixantenna module.
 19. The wireless communication apparatus according toclaim 18, wherein the phase matrix antenna module is designed by analuminum foil of a baseboard.